Summary
- The modding community has created high-quality maps and source ports for DOOM 64, showcasing unique scenarios, clever gimmicks, and detailed levels.
- Mods like "Doom 64 Ascension" expand on the original levels, transforming them into more detailed and ominous environments with reworked sprites, geometry, and lighting.
- Ethereal Breakdown, a map pack project, was created to celebrate DOOM 64's 25th anniversary, featuring intense missions, silly maps, and clever ideas, including parodies of other games.
The first two DOOM games were revolutionary and immensely addictive, so much so that they had an impact on industries and libraries with internet access across the globe. A follow-up to the events of DOOM 2 was developed by Midway for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, and while it didn’t garner the sales and scores they hoped for, it did become a cult classic of sorts.
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After all, DOOM 64 was much darker, redesigned the demons and made them look even more menacing, had a creepier sound design, and offered very detailed levels filled with clever tricks the original titles couldn’t have pulled off. The modding community certainly hasn’t left this title untouched and has gotten to work on creating source ports and maps of their own for the horror shooter. Many of them are of the highest quality, and these are some of the best out there.
1 The UnMaking
This Surreal Mod Includes Levels With Clever Gimmicks And Scripted Events
- Created by scwiba
- Available on the Doomworld Forums (includes the most up-to-date Version 2.6)
The UnMaking is a very clever collection of maps that can be played on the Doom64 EX source port, or the official 2020 HD version of the game by Nightdive Studios. Thanks to the game’s flexible scripting system, the developers have delivered a selection of unique scenarios and unconventional maps.
Some levels feature marines with a tendency to fight anything in their path, ghostly apparitions of enemies appearing out of thin air to frighten the player, stationary demons that can only be killed with homing missiles from enemy traps to progress, battles with demons in a star-studded void, stealthy scenarios involving clones of the final boss, and so many others. Colored lighting is used extensively and cleverly here, too. It’s an innovative creation and unmissable for any fan of the title.
2 Doom 64 Ascension
The Original Levels Are Expanded On, With More Detailed Environments And Layouts
- Created by AtomicFrog
- Available on ModDB
Back in the nineties, DOOM 64 was originally designed with the Nintendo 64’s limited cartridge space in mind. Doom 64 Ascension (originally titled Doom 64 Reloaded back when it was designed to work on the Doom64 EX Source port) answers the question: What might the game have looked like if the cartridge had more memory, thereby supporting more detailed levels?
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Every map is given significant edits and changes to practically transform them into something much more detailed and ominous. Sprites, geometry, and lighting are all reworked to be more detailed and eye-catching, too. The result is breathtaking, as the temples, space stations, and hellish locations now feature icy lakes, spaceship exteriors, and more futuristic-looking locales. A selection of bonus maps is available alongside, including a remake of "Club DOOM" from the PlayStation port of DOOM and DOOM 2 (it’s set in a Hell-themed disco!).
3 Beta 64
Took Over 20 Years To Make, With A Selection Of Quality Maps
- Created by Antnee
- Available on Doomworld forums and ModDB (remastered version)
DOOM 64 contains many maps that fans have praised for their quality, pacing, and clever use of traps. The creator of Beta 64, Antnee, was certainly compelled as well. He originally started making notes for a DOOM 64 project in 1997, back when the game was simply being covered and promoted in magazines before it was even released!
The project officially started in 2015, and what came of it was a selection of surprisingly diverse maps. One can expect arena-style missions, doors that change which colored key is required to unlock them, laser walls, tight caverns to traverse, and more. It even includes a few "Fun Maps," being compact and challenging mini-missions, much like the base game. Its devious battles will make anyone sweat and grin all the way through.
4 Community Chest 64
A Compilation Of Community-Made Maps Showcase Their Talents
- Created by various mappers
- Available on Doomworld forums
Community Chest is an ongoing series where modders contribute maps to a megaWAD - i.e. A 32-level compilation of maps. Community Chest 64 only contains 20 maps, though these custom-made missions still contain enough demon-blasting action to satisfy budding DOOM 64 players.
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"Trials" by thexgiddoomerx compiles a trio of arenas, two of which are inspired by the final bosses of DOOM on the PC and the PlayStation port, respectively, while Kaiser’s "Ground Zero" shoves plenty of demon fodder to gun down in a creatively-designed sci-fi base. "Outpost Alpha" by hardcore_gamer makes for a fun mission to start on without it being too overly forgiving with its difficulty, and Sluggard’s "Corrupted Entry" has a pyramid filled with traps galore to slip past. It may be inconsistent, though there’s enough on offer here to gratify what any player is after.
5 Ethereal Breakdown
25 Years Of DOOM 64 Were Celebrated With A MegaWAD Of Missions, Interconnected Via A Hub
- Created by various mappers
- Available on ModDB
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of DOOM 64, the community banded together to create the map pack project Ethereal Breakdown. Designed to be played on the Doom64 EX source port, the true main objective is to find each of the artifacts, intended to power the devastating Unmaker, though these function as keys to the true final boss in this megaWAD.
Not only is there a collection of stellar maps that are just as intense and exciting as the ones found in the original, but there are some silly maps bundled alongside. One has the player explore a mansion from different camera angles in the style of Resident Evil, while others are recreations of the first levels of Wolfenstein 3D and Duke Nukem 3D. There’s even a parody of indie horror games with jump-scares and disjointed designs to throw people off. Most songs are community-made, too, along with covers of songs from the aforementioned titles as well. The whole project is brimming with clever ideas.
6 Dreamblood
Eye-Catching Colors And Expansive Setpieces Are All On Display Here
- Created by HeadshotTAS
- Available on Doomworld forums
In this eight-level mod, Dreamblood, many creative maps are on display. "Electric Moon" makes cold, heartless industrial-themed levels look beautiful, while "Martian Embers" boasts stunning architecture. Perhaps the most memorable map is "64 City," an urban-themed mission that features a giant UFO that can teleport Doomguy inside via its tractor beam.
Other small inclusions help propel this project, like the inclusion of new skyboxes for a more colorful appearance, and jump pads to help players traverse longer distances and access higher sectors much more quickly. Then there are the cheeky jokes like the zombie troops being distracted by DOOM 64 on their PCs. It’s easy to see why it won a Cacoaward back in 2023.
Doom 64
- Released
- April 4, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Midway Games
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- FPS
